Page 5 of Bullets and Dandelions

The sergeant was right, I couldn’t. The thought of leaving my backpack and ghillie suit behind turned my stomach. If I got into a shootout, I’d be screwed. I studied the small opening at the top of the cave. I’d fit but it would be one hell of a climb.

“Chiquita we are on the same side,” Rodriquez called. “We won’t hurt you.”

Maybe not, but if I got kicked out of the Army, Pops and his creepy boss would be waiting for me.

Sergeant Stone snarled, “Did you freak out when the shooting started? Did you leave your team behind? Is your cowardice going to get you court-martialed?”

What a jackass. With my luck, he was the hot guy.

The sergeant let out an exasperated sigh. “Rodriquez thinks you’re the Scorpion. Me? I think you’re the radio operator and you left your team without any way to communicate with your base.”

I gave him a one-fingered salute. Too bad the ass couldn’t see it.

“There is no food in your pack, Chiquita. I bet you’re hungry.”

Oh great. Now they were doing good cop, bad cop.

“Join us for dinner, Chiquita. You can choose between beef stew or spaghetti.”

I had to admit, I was tempted, and I was so tired of being alone.

“I’ll even toss in a chocolate bar, if you answer all my questions,” Sergeant Stone growled.

God, I wanted to shoot him.

“She might be injured,” Johnson said.

Sergeant Stone countered, “There’s no blood on her backpack or ghillie suit.”

I laid back down and tried to ignore all the noise they were making as they set up camp.

“Last chance, Chiquita.”

My stomach growled loudly. The spaghetti smelled so good.

Thwap! Thwap!

What the hell? I walked over to the slot. Someone had tossed me two candy bars. Was this some kind of trick?

“Tell me your name and I’ll give you an MRE too,” Sergeant Stone said.

I picked up my canteen and drained it dry. The water would fill my stomach for now.

“If you’re not out by morning, I’m lobbing a smoke grenade in there,” Sergeant Stone said nastily.

What a jackass. Grabbing my sniper rifle, I used the barrel to drag the candy to me. I had an eighteen-mile hike ahead of me and I would need all the calories I could get.

Chapter Three

The alarm on my watch beeped softly. I turned it off and sat up with a groan. Every muscle in my body hurt. Knowing the Marines would kill any militants or smugglers who showed up, I had slept like a baby.

The sun spilled into the cavern. I quickly ate the two chocolate bars, drank as much water as I could hold and filled my canteen.

“You’ve got a choice to make, soldier. Come out and have a nice hot breakfast or eat a lot of smoke.”

“Fuck off.”

Rodriquez laughed. “She’s got a temper.”

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